U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announces more than $65 million available to fight human trafficking and help trafficking victims

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – U.S. Attorney Bill Powell today announced that more than $65 million in Department of Justice grants is available to help communities combat human trafficking and serve adults and children who are victimized in trafficking operations.

“Human trafficking is the lowest of crimes, preying on some of the world’s most vulnerable in a horrendous way. Our efforts to combat this issue in the Mountain State are vital to the safety of those who live here and those who visit. This funding will help keep people safe and preserve their basic human rights,” said Powell.

“Our nation is facing difficult challenges, none more pressing than the scourge of human trafficking. Human traffickers pose a dire threat to public safety and countering this threat remains one of the Administration’s top domestic priorities,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “The Department of Justice is front and center in the fight against this insidious crime. OJP is making historic amounts of grant funding available to ensure that our communities have access to innovative and diverse solutions.” 

 The funding is available through OJP, the federal government’s leading source of public safety funding and crime victim assistance in state, local and tribal jurisdictions. OJP’s programs support a wide array of activities and services, including programs that support human trafficking task forces and services for human trafficking survivors.  

A number of funding opportunities are currently open, with several more opening in the near future.  

Missing and Exploited Children Training and Technical Assistance Program
https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-17351
Total Available $1.8 million         Deadline 4/6/2020 (Extended)

Multidisciplinary Task Force Program to Combat Human Trafficking
Total Available $22 million                                       Opens week of 3/16/2020

Preventing Trafficking of Girls
Total Available $1.7 million                    Opens week of 3/16/2020

Research and Evaluation on Trafficking in Persons
https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/nij-2020-17324
Total Available $2.5 million                   Deadline 4/20/2020     

Services for Victims of Human Trafficking
Total Available $16.5 million                Opens week of 3/16/2020

Specialized Training and Technical Assistance on Housing for Victims of Human Trafficking                                              
Total Available $2 million                Opens week of 3/16/2020

Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Program
Total Available $5 million                Opens week of 3/16/2020

Improving Outcomes for Child and Youth Victims of Human Trafficking    
Total Available $6 million                 Opens week of 3/16/2020

Integrated Services for Minor Victims of Labor Trafficking
Total Available $8 million                 Opens week of 3/16/2020

For more information regarding all OJP funding opportunities, visit https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities